🔍 Key Concepts

• Oil and hazardous substance pollution laws in the U.S. (e.g., Oil Pollution Act, Clean Water Act) cover more than just heavy oils • Basic behavior of gasoline vs fuel oil on the water surface (evaporation rate, spreading, visibility) • Effects of toxic, volatile liquids like gasoline on marine life and the marine environment

💭 Think About

• Think about whether gasoline, as a petroleum product, would be exempt or included under pollution control laws. • Compare how long a light, fast‑evaporating product like gasoline would remain visible on the surface compared to a heavier fuel oil. • Consider whether the toxicity and rapid spreading of gasoline would be harmless, mildly harmful, or dangerous to marine organisms.

✅ Before You Answer

• Confirm whether gasoline is considered a pollutant when discharged into navigable waters. • Recall that lighter, more volatile products behave differently (evaporate and disperse faster) than heavier oils on the surface. • Check which option best reflects both legal treatment and physical behavior of gasoline in comparison to crude or fuel oil.